Once worshipped at the Emirates stadium, Robin van Persie assumed the role of pantomime villain following his blockbuster £24m move up north.

The deadly Dutchman spent eight seasons at Arsenal, bagging 132 goals in 378 appearances to become the club’s eighth all-time top goalscorer.

But the marriage turned sour in 2012 after he announced his intention to leave the club in search of silverware – settling on arch-rivals Man United as his next destination.

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SHOTS FIRED: The Spanish defender fires a cheeky shot at Robin van Persie during the interview

"I always listen to the little boy inside of me in these situations – when you have to make the harder decisions in life. What does he want?” he said after the move.

“That boy was screaming for Man United. From my side, and Arsenal as well, there are no hard feelings.

“There were certain elements which were vital to me that we had a different view. That is life. Nobody is angry at me and I'm not angry at them."

If the Rotterdam-born striker felt that his departure from north London was gracious, the feeling was clearly not reciprocated by the Gunners faithful, who greeted the news with nothing short of vitriol.